General Surgery Service at SPIRE THAMES VALLEY HOSPITAL

At SPIRE THAMES VALLEY HOSPITAL, the median general surgery service wait is 24 weeks, compared to 10 weeks nationally. Doctor Data Wait Score: 1/10. Right to Choose now: switching NHS hospitals can dramatically cut your wait. If you have private medical insurance, also worth a parallel conversation with your insurer.

1. 1

   Talk to your GP about Right to Choose

   By NHS law you can choose any NHS hospital in England for your first outpatient appointment. Take a pre-filled letter to your GP — it sets out your situation and the trust you'd prefer.

   Generate GP letter
2. 2

   Compare with other NHS hospitals near you

   See which NHS trusts have shorter waits for this specialty. Useful evidence for your GP conversation.

   See national rankings for general surgery
3. 3

   Check if private medical insurance would cover this

   Many people have PMI through their employer or partner without realising. A 5-minute check can be worth months saved.

   How to check your PMI cover